Method and system for monitoring a mobile station presence in a special area

ABSTRACT

Method for monitoring the presence of a mobile station ( 200 ) in at least one special area ( 203, 203   b ), wherein a radio communication defining device ( 212, 212   b ) transmits one radio distinctive defining signal ( 214, 214   b ) that defines the special area by its coverage, the mobile station processes a signal received in order to determine whether or not it is a defining signal and more precisely a distinctive one that defines the special area, the mobile station sends an updating signal to a mobile telephone network, the network routes the updating signal to special operating means that adapt the value of an operating parameter. According to the invention, the special area is associated to the mobile station by transmitting to the mobile station a checking data used by the mobile station for determining whether or not the defining signal received is a distinctive defining signal.

This invention relates to a method for monitoring a mobile stationpresence in a special area. This invention relates also to a mobilesystem, a server, a radio transmitting device, and a mobile stationsuitable for carrying out such a method.

BACKGROUND ART

Development of short range wireless communication solutions based on theuse of Bluetooth, DECT and WIFI within a small area such as homes isstrong competition for mobile operators owning wide mobile networks. Amobile telephone network (called also mobile network) includes a largenumber of base stations and all the data processing means required toprovide the telecommunication service to each mobile station serviced bysaid mobile network.

These short range wireless communication solutions can provide directconnection to fixed networks whose operators offer cheaper rates thanthose offered by mobile networks. It can therefore be of interest formobile network operators to offer different rates depending on theinstantaneous location of a mobile station connected to its mobilenetwork, in particular in areas; called special areas, where it couldface strong competition from some short range wireless communicationsolutions.

The published patent application n°U.S. 20020094801 describes atechnical solution: a fixed station sends an encoded first signal andthe coverage of said first signal defines a special area. The fixedstation and a mobile station using the special area are linked oneanother via the signal code. But this document does not discloseanything about the content of said coded signal. In order to realizeprotection against the abuse of the system, in an embodiment, thisdocument proposes to provide the fixed station with receiving andcomparison means for an access code that is to be applied to the fixedstation via the mobile station in order to put the fixed station intooperation.

The international application WO 00/27152 offers another solution forlocating a mobile station based on the use of a guide unit thatbroadcasts a short range radio signal which defines a home area. Thisdocument discloses that the short range radio signal contains theidentity code of said mobile station that has to identify its ownidentity code in order to notice to a mobile switching centre that it islocated in its home area. This mobile station transmits then a homemessage to the mobile network, this home message being possibly usednotably for defining the price/service connected to telephone calls. Inthis last, technical solution, the guide unit has to know the identityof the mobile station and this last solution is thought to be used for ahome special area.

However, this last technical solution does not allow the mobile network,to add for a mobile station one or more special areas wherein thepresence of a mobile station is monitored without having to at leastmodify one or more guide units broadcasting in such areas. It lackstherefore of flexibility.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a method formonitoring the presence of a mobile station in at least one specialarea, said method providing the flexibility to the mobile telephonenetwork of associating new special areas for this mobile station in asecure way without modifying any radio transmitting device.

This object is achieved in accordance with claim 1 by providing a methodfor monitoring the presence of a mobile station in at least one specialarea associated to the mobile station, the method comprising thefollowing steps:

-   -   a. at least one radio communication defining device transmits        repeatedly in at least a channel one radio distinctive defining        signal that defines the special area by its coverage,    -   b. the mobile station observes the channel and process any        signal received in order to determine whether or not it is        receiving any defining signal,    -   c. the mobile station processes any defining signal received in        order to determine whether or not the defining signal received        is a distinctive defining signal that defines the special area,    -   d. the mobile station sends an updating signal to a mobile        telephone network about its presence in the special area,    -   e. the mobile telephone network routes the updating signal to        special operating means that adapt the value of at least one        operating parameter depending on the presence of the mobile        station in the special area, the said method is characterized in        that the special area is associated to the mobile station by        transmitting to the mobile station a checking data, this        checking data being used by the mobile station for determining        whether or not the defining signal received is a distinctive        defining signal that defines, alone or with other distinctive        defining signals, the special area associated to the mobile        station and the same checking data being sent to any mobile        station whose presence in this special area is monitored.

Advantageously from the operator's point of view, the invention bringsthe flexibility needed to activate a special way of operating a mobilestation in a special area by transmitting a checking data that will bestored in a mobile station database without having to modify, by way ofintroducing any new data (notably the identity code of said mobilestation), at least one radio communication defining device like in theaforementioned international patent application WO 00/27152. Therefore,a radio communication defining device is not required to store all themobile stations identity codes using the special area defined by atleast the coverage of its defining signal(s).

According to the present invention, a special area associated to amobile station can be defined by one or more defining signals. Thereforethe checking data may preferably contain information included in everydefining signals defining completely a special area (each one defines itpartially) and the mobile station try to find any of this information inany defining signal received with comparison means. The mobile stationmay receive defining signals that do not define any special area for it.In the case where the special area is defined by two or more definingsignals, this special area may be the intersection of all or part ofthem or the global coverage of the defining signals.

In addition, a method according to the invention is specially suitableto be used in environments like for example airports, company's premisesor business centres where the number of different mobile stations to beserviced by the mobile telephone network would be high. With thesolution of the aforementioned international patent application WO00/27152, it would be necessary to store and transmit in and from asingle radio communication defining device all the mobile stationidentity codes of the potential mobile stations using a special areadefined in such environment, operation which would difficult or evenimpossible considering that the radio spectrum is a limited resource.Therefore, the application WO 00/27152 has a narrower geographical scopeof usability. It is also not required, thanks to the invention, to sendany activation code to activate a radio communication defining deviceand it is not required to store all the mobile stations activation codesin the radio communication defining device, as in one embodiment of thepublished patent application n°U.S. 20020094801. Therefore, it is easierwith this present invention to realize protection against abuse of thesystem.

The special operating means may be at least partly included in the dataprocessing means of the mobile telephone network. All of them or part ofthem may be own or operate by an external provider of the mobiletelephone network.

In a particular embodiment, the special area is deactivated for themobile station by the mobile telephone network sending a deactivationsignal to the mobile station to stop the mobile station from recognizinga defining signal that defines that special area as a distinctive one.

In a particular embodiment, the special operating means acknowledge thereception of the updating signal and transmit an acknowledgement signalto the mobile station. In this embodiment, the mobile station knowsadvantageously if the mobile telephone network received the updatingsignal or not.

In a particular embodiment, at least one radio communication definingdevice is a wireless device whose radio distinctive defining signal thatdefines the special area is a distinctive wireless signal transmitted bythe wireless device in a frequency range outside the frequency rangeallocated for the mobile telephone network. Preferably, the saiddistinctive wireless signal contains wireless device identification dataand reliable information confirming that the wireless device iseffectively located into a predetermined environment. The operator ofthe mobile telephone network advantageously avoids fraud linked to apossible shifting of the wireless device. The checking data associatedto this wireless device includes this wireless device identificationdata.

In another particular embodiment, at least one radio communicationdefining device is a base station whose radio distinctive definingsignal that defines the special area is a distinctive signal comprisinga special mobile telephone network identification code, the checkingdata associated to this base station includes this special mobiletelephone network identification code.

In another particular embodiment, at least one radio communicationdefining device is a base station whose radio distinctive definingsignal that defines the special area is a distinctive base stationidentity signal comprising an identification code of the base station,the checking data associated to this base station includes this basestation identification code. The mobile telephone network operatorcontrols and knows the location of all the base stations broadcastingidentification codes contained into the mobile station database andtherefore advantageously controls the location of the special area.

In an embodiment of this invention, the special operating means store aparameters database linking the special area to the mobile station andto a set of at least the operating parameter; and the special operatingmeans adapt the value of at least an operational parameter of this setwhen they receive an updating signal signalling that the mobile stationexits or enters the special area. Thanks to this embodiment of theinvention, the processing of these operating parameters is centralizedin the special operating means and it is not done in each base station.In case the mobile station will be switch off, the mobile networkoperator will decide whether or not the values of the operatingparameters associated to the presence of the mobile station into specialoperating areas remain unchanged or are disabled into the databasecontaining the set of operating parameters as consequence of theswitching off process.

In a particular embodiment, the operating parameter is a tariff or aservice flag that enables or disables a special tariff or a service forthe mobile station. Advantageously, the operator's services offer cantherefore being dependent on the location of the mobile station.

In a particular embodiment, the updating signal includes a request toaccess to a service or to a multimedia content and the mobile telephonenetwork routes this request to a part of the special operating meansthat allow or forbid the provision of this service or multimedia contentdepending on whether or not the mobile station is into the special area.This part of the special operating means may be operated by the mobiletelephone network operator or by a different provider.

In a particular embodiment, the transmission of the checking data to themobile station is done via the mobile telephone network or via a signalof at least one radio device or via a person introducing the checkingdata in the mobile station.

According to the present invention, there is further provided a mobilesystem for monitoring the presence of a mobile station in a special areadefined for this mobile station, said system comprising :

-   -   checking means for detecting the presence of the mobile station        in the special area associated to this mobile station, said        checking means including        -   At least one radio communication defining device            transmitting repeatedly in at least a channel a radio            distinctive defining signal that defines the special area,        -   in the mobile station, observing means for observing the            channel and processing means for processing any signal            received in the channel in order to determine whether or not            the signal received is a defining signal and, if the signal            received is a defining signal, whether or not the signal            received is a distinctive defining signal that defines the            special area,    -   transmission means for sending an updating signal regarding the        presence of the mobile station in the special area from the        processing means to special operating means included at least        partly in data processing means of the mobile telephone network,    -   the special operating means for adapting the value of at least        one operating parameter depending on the presence of the mobile        station in the special area,        characterized in that the said mobile system comprises storing        means for storing a checking data in the mobile station, the        processing means include means for using this checking data for        determining whether or not the defining signal received is a        distinctive defining signal that defines, alone or with other        distinctive defining signals, the special area and the same        checking data is sent to any mobile station whose presence in        this special area is monitored.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the mobile system comprisesspecial area location monitoring means for monitoring the correctlocation of at least a part of the special area. It is then harder tofraud by moving the radio communication defining device. In a particularembodiment of the invention, the mobile system carries out a methodaccording to the present invention.

This invention also concerns a server. According to the invention, thisserver is characterized in that it contains at least some of the specialoperating means included in the mobile system according to the presentinvention. This server may contain the whole or part of the specialoperating means. In this last case, the special operating means may bespread in several servers or computers.

According to the present invention, there is further provided a radiocommunication defining device, characterized in that it carries out amethod according to the present invention. In a particular embodiment,the said radio communication defining device of the invention is awireless device and it contains means for transmitting the distinctivewireless signal that defines the special area and means for obtainingreliable information indicating whether or not the said wireless deviceis located into a predetermined environment.

This invention also concerns a mobile station, characterized in thatthis mobile station is suitable to carry out a method according to thepresent invention. This mobile station may be a mobile telephone or aPersonal Digital Assistant for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description of some possible embodiments,other features and advantages of the invention will appear, eachdescription being made with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a mobilesystem according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of amobile system according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of amobile system according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating partly an embodiment of a methodaccording to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating another part of an embodiment of amethod according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a part of an operating parametersdatabase in an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a part of another operating parametersdatabase in an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A mobile telephone network includes a large number of base stations andall the data processing means required to provide the telecommunicationservice to each mobile station serviced by the mobile telephone network.The mobile telephone network may be cellular or not.

In this description and in the claims, it is supposed, in the case thatthe mobile telephone network is cellular, that each base station of thecellular mobile telephone network is associated to a unique cell.Therefore, some base stations of the cellular mobile network can belocated in the same location and share technical means. For example, atower may incorporate three sets of antennas, each set being part of adifferent base station of the same mobile network.

FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are three schematic figures describing threeparticular embodiments of mobile systems according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of theinvention wherein:

-   -   any base station 107 or 105 of a mobile telephone network of an        operator is a radio communication defining device transmitting a        radio defining signal in a channel used by the mobile telephone        network,    -   the distinctive radio defining signal that defines the special        area is a distinctive signal transmitted by some selected base        stations 105, said distinctive signal comprising a special        mobile telephone network identification code. The sum of the        coverage of these selected base stations 105 defines a special        area (the shaded area of FIG. 1).    -   the checking data includes this special mobile telephone network        identification code.

More precisely, FIG. 1 shows a geographical area 102 covered by themobile telephone network. The radio coverage of the mobile telephonenetwork in this geographical area 102 is the addition of the radiocoverage 104 and 106 of several base stations 105 and 107. The mobiletelephone network includes data-processing means that comprise a serveraccording to the invention including special operating means accordingto the invention.

Each base station is transmitting network data, including a mobiletelephone network identification code, which allows a mobile station 100in the geographical area 102 to select the appropriate mobile telephonenetwork.

The operator of the mobile telephone network defines one special mobiletelephone network identification code, called IC2, (in anotherembodiment, the operator may create more than one special mobiletelephone network identification code) different from a normal mobiletelephone network identification code, called IC1. Then the operatorconfigures its mobile telephone network in such a way that some basestations 107 (in general the majority of them) transmit a radio definingsignal comprising the normal mobile telephone network identificationcode and the selected base stations 105 (in general a minority of them)transmit a distinctive defining signal comprising a special mobiletelephone network identification code.

The checking data (i.e. IC2) is stored into an internal mobile stationdatabase included in mobile station 100 storing means, this mobilestation 100 being associated to this special area. The same checkingdata is sent to any mobile station whose presence in this special areais monitored.

The mobile station 100 contains observing means and processing means fordetermining that the distinctive defining signal transmitted by any basestation 105 is received. These processing means include means for usingthe checking data that include, in this embodiment, comparing means.Thanks to these comparing means, the mobile telephone networkidentification codes received by the mobile station are compared to IC2stored into the internal mobile station database: If the mobile stationis in a position like the position (a) in FIG. 1, i.e. inside thespecial area, the mobile telephone network identification code receivedis equal to IC2 and therefore the mobile station 100 determines that itis into the special area. Otherwise, if the mobile station 100 is inposition like the position (b) in FIG. 1, i.e. outside the special area,the mobile station 100 receives a defining signal containing 101different from IC2 and determines that it is not receiving anydistinctive defining signal and therefore that it is not into thespecial area.

For example, if the mobile station 100 is a GSM mobile station operatinginto a GSM mobile telephone network, the mobile station 100 has thecapability to store the received mobile telephone networksidentification codes into a mobile station 100 memory. In that case, themobile station 100 may access to such internal memory to get data todetermine, together with the checking data (i.e. IC2), whether or not itis receiving any distinctive defining signal.

With the exception of the processes concerning the invention, a specialmobile telephone network identification code (IC2) is equivalent, fromthe perspective of both the mobile station and the mobile telephonenetwork, to a normal mobile telephone network identification code (IC1).In this context, processes such as network selection,selection/reselection of base stations and handover will not beinfluenced because some base stations transmit IC1 and some othertransmit IC2, such lack of influence meaning that all the mobile stationand the mobile telephone network processes (except the processesconcerning the invention) will be handle as if IC1 and IC2 would be thesame code.

For example, a mobile telephone network operator can use this embodimentof the invention to offer one set of normal billing rates in an urbanenvironment of a country, and another set of special billing rates for arural environment. Another example of the application of this embodimentof the invention is for a mobile telephone network operator to offernormal billing rates for the whole country except in industrial areas orbusiness districts.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of anotherembodiment of a mobile system according to the invention wherein theradio communication defining device is a wireless device (212 or 212 b),e.g. a WIFI, Bluetooth or DECT device, the radio distinctive definingsignal that defines the special area is a distinctive wireless signal214 or 214 b (e.g. a WIFI, Bluetooth or DECT signal) transmitted by thewireless device (212 or 212 b) in a frequency range outside thefrequency range allocated for the mobile telephone network. A mobilestation 200 whose presence in the special area is monitored includesobserving means and processing means for determining whether or not anydefining signal is received in the frequency range used by the wirelessdevice.

Each distinctive wireless signal contains wireless device identificationdata and reliable information confirming that its transmitting wirelessdevice (212 or 212 b in FIG. 2) is effectively located into apredetermined environment. The checking data comprises a set of at leastone wireless device identification data.

The predetermined environment may be one or more specific geographicallocations (for example several fixed points into a restaurant) or aphysical environment that can be mobile (for example a car, a plane or aboat). The predetermined environment is defined by the operator of themobile telephone network.

The distinctive wireless signals are preferably coded and the mobilestation processing means include decoding means to decode the wirelesssignals received.

The mobile system comprises special area location monitoring means formonitoring the correct location of any wireless device that may transmita distinctive wireless signal into this predetermined environment andtherefore for monitoring at least a part of the special area.

In a particular embodiment of the special area location monitoringmeans, the reliable information comprised into the wireless signalconfirms that the wireless device is effectively located into apredetermined geographical environment defined by the operator of themobile telephone network when:

-   -   the wireless device able to receive a RBU signal from at least        one radio broadcasting unit (RBU)    -   RBU identification data is comprised into the RBU signal,    -   the wireless device receives, through the RBU signal from the        RBU, the RBU identification data that are included into a RBU        identification database of the wireless device.

The storage of the RBU identification data into the wireless device RBUidentification data database may be done at the Wireless deviceconfiguration stage. In the particular example of FIG. 2 and thewireless device 212, the RBU is a base station 205 of the mobiletelephone network, the RBU identification data is a base stationidentification code. The wireless device 212 is authenticated into themobile telephone network comprising the base station 205 and may receivethe base station signal 220 when it is located within the range ofcoverage 204 of the base station 205.

In a second example of embodiment of the special area locationmonitoring means, the reliable information comprised into the wirelesssignal confirms that the wireless device is effectively located into apredetermined geographical environment defined by the operator of themobile telephone network when it is physically connected to any fixednetwork connection points defined by the operator of the mobiletelephone network for the special area and it is also authenticated intothe said fixed network through any of the mentioned fixed networkconnection points. In this embodiment, the wireless device alsocomprises means for communicating with the fixed network. In aparticular example of this embodiment, some parameters are stored intothe wireless device during its configuration stage and such parametersare used by the wireless device to perform the said authenticationprocess into the fixed network.

These connection points may be PSTN (‘Public Switching TelephonyNetwork’) connectors for ADSL network services or electrical sockets forPLC (‘Power Line Communication’) home network services for example: Inthe particular example of FIG. 2 and the wireless device 212 b, thewireless device 212 b has to be connected to a connection point 230 of afixed network and authenticated in this fixed network so that thereliable information comprised into the wireless signal 214 b confirmsthat the wireless device is effectively located into a predeterminedgeographical environment.

In a third example of an embodiment of the special area locationmonitoring means (not illustrated in FIG. 2), the reliable informationcomprised into the wireless signal confirms that the wireless device iseffectively located into a predetermined physical environment defined bythe operator of the mobile telephone network when:

-   -   the wireless device is physically connected to a system        registered and authorised by the mobile telephone network        operator for the purposes of the invention and    -   the wireless device is authenticated into the mentioned system.

In a particular example of this embodiment some parameters are storedinto the wireless device during its configuration stage and suchparameters are used by the wireless device to perform the referredauthentication process into the system. This system may be, in anexample, embedded in a mobile device such as a car or a boat.

More precisely, FIG. 2 shows a geographical area 202 covered by a mobiletelephone network of an operator, the radio coverage of the mobiletelephone network in this geographical area 202 being the addition ofthe radio coverage of several base stations 205 and 207. The mobiletelephone network includes a server according to the inventioncomprising special operating means. In this embodiment, a wirelessdevice 212 is located in a geographical environment agreed between theoperator and the user, such as for example near to the user's house ornear his/her work place. The wireless device 212 b is located eitherinto a geographical environment, such as for example the user's home, orinto a physical environment, which may be mobile, such as for examplethe user's car, such environments being agreed between the operator andthe user.

The checking data associated to a special area is stored into aninternal mobile station database included in a memory (storing means) ofa mobile station 200 associated to this special area.

Processing means comprised in the mobile station 200 compare anywireless device identification data received with the checking datastored in its internal mobile station database and determines that awireless signal received is a distinctive wireless signal when:

-   -   such wireless signal is coded in a format predefined for a        distinctive wireless signal and    -   the wireless device identification data comprised into the        wireless signal is equal to at least one of the wireless device        identification data stored into the internal mobile station        database and    -   the reliable information comprised into the wireless signal        confirms that the wireless device is effectively located into a        predetermined environment.

Otherwise the mobile station 200 determines that the wireless signalreceived is not a distinctive wireless signal.

In the embodiment illustrated by the FIG. 2, the sum of the coverage(203, 203 b) of the wireless devices 212 and 212 b transmittingdistinctive wireless signals 214 and 214 b defines a special area forthe mobile station 200 according to the invention.

Transmission means for sending an updating signal regarding the presenceof the mobile station 200 in the special area (203, 203 b) from theprocessing means to the special operating means are partly comprised inthe mobile station 200 and in the mobile telephone network. The updatingsignal may comprise the result of the last determination performed bythe mobile station about its presence into the special area. In anotherembodiment, the reliable information related to whether or not thewireless device 212 or 212 b is or not effectively located into itspredetermined environment is also included into the updating signal.

In this embodiment, an operator of a mobile telephone network covering ageographical area 202 may offer cheaper rates, called special billingrates, to the user of a mobile station 200 if he uses his/her mobilestation 200 within the range of coverage 203 of the wireless device 212(position (a) of the mobile station 200) or within the range of coverage203 b of the wireless device 212 b (position (b) of the mobile station200).

As an example, a mobile telephone network operator can use thisembodiment of the invention to offer one set of special billing rates inpremises associated to the user of the mobile station 200 as may behouses, cars or boats, and another set of normal billing rates for therest of the environments where the user may use the mobile station 200.Another example of the application of this embodiment of the inventionis for a mobile telephone network operator to offer normal billing ratesfor the whole country except in industrial areas, airports orrestaurants.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of anotherembodiment of a mobile system according to the invention wherein theradio communication defining device is a base station, the radiodefining signal that defines the special area is a distinctive basestation identity signal comprising an identification code thatidentifies this base station, the checking data includes a set of atleast one base station identification code.

FIG. 3 shows a geographical area 302 covered by a mobile telephonenetwork of an operator, the radio coverage of the mobile telephonenetwork in this geographical area 302 being the addition of the radiocoverage 304 and 306 of several base stations 305 and 307. The mobiletelephone network includes a server according to the inventioncomprising special operating means.

Any mobile station 300 whose presence in the special area is monitoredincludes observing means and processing means for observing andprocessing the base station identity signal of the mobile telephonenetwork base stations 305 and 307.

The checking data is stored into an internal mobile station databaseincluded in a memory (storing means) of a mobile station 300 associatedto this special area.

Processing means of the mobile station 300 process the base stationsidentity signals received and compare their base station identificationcodes to the checking data and determine that at least one distinctivebase station identification code signal is received (i.e. the mobilestation 300 is in position (a)) when any of the base stationidentification codes received is equal to at least one of the basestation identification codes stored into the internal mobile stationdatabase and otherwise determine that it is not receiving anydistinctive base station identification code signal (i.e. the mobilestation 300 is in position (b)).

For example, when a GSM mobile station is operating into a GSM mobiletelephone network, the GSM mobile station 300 receives theidentification code of the active base station and also theidentification codes of some available neighbours base stations. The GSMmobile station 300 may consequently process the base stationidentification codes received to determine, together with the checkingdata, whether or not it is receiving any distinctive base stationidentification code signal.

The sum of the coverages 304 of the base stations 305 transmittingdistinctive base station identification code signals defines a specialarea for the mobile station 300 according to the invention.

In this embodiment, an operator of a mobile telephone network covering ageographical area 302 may offer special services to the user of a mobilestation 300 if he uses his/her mobile station 300 within the range ofcoverage of the base stations 305.

As an example a mobile telephone network operator can use thisembodiment of the invention to offer one set of normal billing rates inan urban environment of a country, and another set of special billingrates for a rural environment. Another example of the application ofthis embodiment of the invention is for a mobile telephone networkoperator to offer normal billing rates for the whole country except inindustrial areas or small towns.

Any combination of the embodiments of a mobile system according to theinvention described herein is another embodiment here below of a mobilesystem according to the invention. That combination can be the resultfrom ‘N’ different distinctive defining signals, each one comprising adifferent special mobile telephone network identification code or adifferent wireless device identification data or a different basestation identification code ,.

For example, the mobile telephone network operator can then propose ‘N’different sets of rates for ‘N’ different kinds of special areas for agiven mobile station. In an example, an operator installs in the user'shouse a wireless device whose position is controlled by being or not inthe range of coverage of a particular base station of the mobilenetwork, another wireless device whose position is controlled by itsconnection to a fix network in the user's holiday cottage and a thirdwireless device whose position is controlled by its connection to asystem embedded in the user's car. The operator creates a special mobiletelephone network identification code transmitted by the all the basestations of the user's city. Then the operator stores in the storingmeans of the user's mobile station the three wireless devicesidentification data, the user's city special mobile telephone networkidentification code and several sets of base stations identificationcodes, each set being the set of identification of base stationscovering public places like airports and train stations. Then, theoperator can adapt the tariffs charged and the services provided to theuser depending notably whether his/her mobile station is in its city oroutside, in its house, holiday cottage or car and/or in public places.

An embodiment of a method for monitoring the presence of a mobilestation in at least one special area according to the invention mayinclude at least three parts:

-   -   a first part, illustrated in FIG. 4, that includes the steps        needed to successfully transmit, store, erase and maintain        checking data in a mobile station according to the invention,    -   a second part, illustrated in FIG. 5, that includes the steps        needed for the mobile station to monitor its location in the        special areas using the checking data that were transmitted to        it and    -   a third part, illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, that includes the        adaptation of the operational parameters depending on the        presence of the mobile station in any special area where this        mobile station is monitoring its presence.

This embodiment of such method according to the invention may be carriedout for example using any of the embodiments of mobile systems accordingto the invention described before.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the first part 400 of a method according to oneembodiment of the invention for successfully transmit, store, erase andmaintain checking data in a mobile station according to the invention.

A mobile telephone network comprises in this embodiment data processingmeans that includes special operating means; the special operating meansare included in a server and therefore are advantageously centralisedand not distributed between each base station of the mobile telephonenetwork.

An operator of a mobile telephone network (i.e. the company thatoperates this mobile telephone network) wishes to propose specialbilling rates and/or special services to users of its mobile telephonenetwork, each user carrying a mobile station, when said users are withinspecial areas of the invention.

The part 400 of this embodiment starts in step 402 when the operatorwishes to monitor the presence of a mobile station in a special area.

In step 404, the operator defines a new special area if the operatorwishes to create a new one. The special areas may be agreed between theoperator and the user or simply defined by the operator.

The definition of the special area can be done by the coverage of one orseveral radio defining signals or by the intersection of the coverage oftwo or more radio defining signals.

In step 406, the operator updates a parameters database included in thespecial operating means. The parameters database associates each specialarea defined with the mobile stations whose presence in such specialarea is monitored. For the purposes of such association, each mobilestation is identified into the parameters database by means of a mobilestation identifier. In the parameters database, each mobile stationidentifier is associated with special tariffs and/or services which maybe or not available for the mobile station depending on the presence ofsuch mobile station into a given special area (and also depending onwhether such tariffs and/or services are enabled or disabled into theparameters database for such mobile station).

The operating parameter(s) that may be adapted depending on the presenceof the mobile station in one or more special areas at the same time maybe notably related to activation or deactivation flags of tariffs and/orservices provided to the mobile station by the mobile telephone network.Therefore, tariffs may be more or less expensive for the said mobilestation in predetermined special areas and/or the mobile station may beable or unable to use predetermined services offered by the operator ofthe mobile telephone network in predetermined special areas.

In step 408, the special operating means send a checking data to themobile station.

The checking data transmission can notably be done:

-   -   1) by sending the checking data stored in a server of the mobile        telephone network to the mobile station through the mobile        telephone network transmission channels. In a particular        example, the mobile telephone network is a GSM network and the        checking data from the server will be sent to the mobile station        via encrypted short messages using an ‘Over the Air’ platform.        The mobile station is able to decode the short messages and to        store the checking data into an internal mobile station        database,    -   2) through the use of a mobile station special software able to        store into an internal mobile station database checking data        obtained by the mobile station from at least one radio        communication defining device. In a particular example, it may        be necessary that an operator's representative introduces a        password to allow the mobile station special software to        operate. The mobile station special software may ask the        operator's representative to validate the storage of the        checking data through the mobile telephone keyboard,    -   3) or via a person (e.g. an operator's representative) who        enters the checking data into the mobile station using the        mobile station keyboard.

Regarding the second option, two examples are provided. In a firstexample, the mobile station is operating in a GSM network, the mobilestation obtains from the active cell its cell identification code andfrom other neighbouring cells, if available, their cell identificationcodes. When the special software is run for example in the user's home,it is able to obtain such cells identification codes and store them inthe internal mobile station database of checking data, associating themwith the user's home special area.

In a second example, the mobile station can obtain, by using a WIFIdevice embedded into the mobile station, neighbouring WIFI devicesidentification data. When the special software is run for example in theuser's home, it is able to obtain such WIFI device identification dataand store them in the internal mobile station database of checking data,associating them with the user's home special area.

Once the checking data has been successfully stored into the internalmobile station database, a confirmation of new checking data is sent tothe parameters database. In addition, notably regarding to the secondand third options to transmit checking data to the mobile station, thestored checking data may be sent by the mobile station to the parametersdatabase through the mobile telephone network for the mobile telephonenetwork to know this checking data.

In step 410, the special operating means wait for the confirmation ofnew checking data from the mobile station. Once the information isreceived, it is stored into the parameters database and the specialoperating means transmit an acknowledgment to the mobile station. Incase the mobile station does not receive the acknowledgment after acertain time, the mobile station sends the confirmation of new checkingdata again until it receives the acknowledgment or until it resents theinformation up to a maximum number of times.

It is advantageous to store the checking data into the mobile station,mainly in comparison to the prior art where it was necessary to storemobile station identity codes and/or activation signals into a fix unit.

If the confirmation of new checking data is not received (possibility412) by the special operating means, the special operating meanstransmit again the checking data to the mobile station (step 408).

When the confirmation of new checking data from the mobile station isreceived (possibility 414) by the special operating means, the specialoperating means know in step 416 that the mobile station updated itsinternal mobile station database and the internal mobile stationdatabase is in accordance with the operator wishes.

After the first special area checking data or set of checking data isstored in the internal mobile station database, the operator can addmore in the same way.

In another hand, in this embodiment of a method according to theinvention, the operator can deactivate a special area following thesteps 430 to 440.

In step 430, the operator chooses to deactivate a special area for amobile station, with or without the agreement of the mobile stationuser. In step 432, the operator deactivates into the parameters databaseall the special tariffs and/or services associated to the presence ofthe mobile station into the special area. In step 434, the specialoperating means transmit a deactivation signal to the mobile station(using the mobile telephone network) asking the mobile station to erase,into its internal mobile station database, the checking data associatedwith the special area that the operator wishes to deactivate.

In another embodiment, the deactivation signal just blocks into themobile station the use of the special area checking data but does noterase it. The result is the same: the deactivation signal avoids themobile station recognising the special area(s) associated with thisdeactivation signal.

The transmission of the deactivation signal may be done notably as inthe first and third options for transmitting the checking data (as seenin description of step 408).

Once the deactivation signal has been successfully received andprocessed by the mobile station, a confirmation of deactivation is sentto the parameters database. In step 436, the special operating meanswait for the confirmation of deactivation from the mobile station. Oncethe confirmation of deactivation is received by the special operatingmeans (possibility 440), this fact is stored into the parametersdatabase and the special operating means transmit an acknowledgment tothe mobile station. In case the mobile station does not receive theacknowledgment after a certain time, the mobile station sends theconfirmation of deactivation again until it receives the acknowledgmentor, in another embodiment, until it resents the confirmation ofdeactivation up to a maximum number of times.

If the confirmation of deactivation is not received (possibility 438) bythe special operating means, the special operating means transmit againa deactivation signal to the mobile station (step 434).

When the confirmation from the mobile station regarding the successfulreception and process of the deactivation signal is received(possibility 440) by the operating means, the operating means know instep 416 that the mobile station updated its internal checking datadatabase and the internal mobile station database is in accordance withthe operator wishes.

In another hand, in this embodiment of a method according to theinvention, the operator can modify a special area following the steps450 to 460 to adapt the internal mobile station database to theoperator's wishes. In step 450, the operator chooses to modify a specialarea for a given mobile station, with or without the agreement of themobile station user, and defines such modified special area. Forexample, this can be done by including in the checking data associatedto one special area, some additional checking data for the special areabeing not only the coverage of one distinctive defining signal but theintersection (or the sum) of the coverage of the former one and thecoverage of a new one. This can be done too by erasing in a set ofchecking data associated to one special area, some checking data inorder to, for example, transform a special area defined as theintersection (or the sum) of the coverage of two distinctive definingsignals into a special area defined as the coverage of one onlydistinctive defining signal.

In case the operator wishes to add a new checking data (the steps forerasing one can be easily inferred by analogy), in step 452, theoperator updates the parameters database in order to include, if known,the new checking data associated to the mobile station and the modifiedspecial area.

In step 454, the special operating means send, by using any of the threeoptions for transmitting checking data described in step 408, the newchecking data to the mobile station using the mobile telephone network.

Once the new checking data has been successfully stored into the part ofthe internal mobile station database that contains the checking datalinked to the special area that has to be modified, a confirmation ofmodification of checking data is sent to the parameters database. Inaddition, typically regarding to the second and third options totransmit checking data to the mobile station described in step 408, thestored new checking data may be sent by the mobile station to theparameters database through the mobile telephone network. In step 456,the special operating means wait for the confirmation of modification ofchecking data from the mobile station. Once the confirmation ofmodification is received, this fact is stored into the parametersdatabase and the special operating means transmit an acknowledgment tothe mobile station. In case the mobile station does not receive theacknowledgment after a certain time, the mobile station sends theinformation again until it receives the acknowledgment or, in anotherembodiment, until it resents the information up to a maximum number oftimes.

If the confirmation of modification of checking data is not received(possibility 458) by the special operating means, the special operatingmeans send again the new checking data to the mobile station (step 454).

When the confirmation of modification sent from the mobile station isreceived by the special operating means (possibility 460), the specialoperating means know that in step 416, the mobile station updated itsinternal checking data database and the internal mobile station databaseis in accordance with the operator wishes.

The second part of this embodiment of a method according to theinvention is illustrated in FIG. 5 and includes the steps needed for themobile station to monitor its location in the special areas using thechecking data that were transmitted into it.

In step 500, a mobile station is switched on. In an embodiment, themobile telephone network sets the values of the operating parametersmanaged in the parameters database to a set of initial values when themobile station is switched off (as at that time it is not present in anyspecial area) in order to start operating the mobile station when it isjust switched on. In step 510, the mobile station observes, through theappropriate channel(s), any signal received and process it to determinewhether or not it is receiving any defining signal from radiocommunication defining devices (e.g. from the base stations of a mobiletelephone network or from wireless devices).

In one embodiment, the defining signal is coded (or part of the datacontained in such a defining signal). In this embodiment, the mobilestation is able to decode the information as part of the processing ofthe defining signals received.

A radio defining signal from a radio communication defining device maybe transmitted on a continuous or periodical basis. The mobile stationobservation as to whether or not it is receiving any defining signal canbe continuous or periodical. In step 512, the mobile station decide ifit receives a defining signal (possibility 516) or not (possibility 514)after observing and processing any signal received.

When one or several defining signals are received, they are processed instep 518 by the mobile station notably in order to compare, in thisembodiment, the appropriate part of their content with any checking datastored in the internal mobile station database.

When a defining signal received is from a wireless device (transmittedin a frequency range outside the frequency range allocated for themobile telephone network), the mobile station preferably also search instep 518 whether or not the defining signal received contains reliableinformation confirming (or not) that the wireless device is effectivelylocated into a predetermined environment defined by the operator of themobile telephone network.

10. Then, in step 520, depending on the result of the internal processcarried out in step 518, the mobile station decides whether (possibility524) or not (possibility 522) the defining signal received is adistinctive defining signal that defines a special area for this mobilestation, therefore validating or not the defining signal received as adistinctive defining signal.

If the special area is defined by the sum of the coverage of severaldistinctive defining signals, the mobile station has to recognize atleast one of the three distinctive defining signals at one time in orderto determine that it is into this special area. In another example, themobile station knows that it is into a special area defined as theintersection of the coverage of several distinctive defining signalswhen it is observing and recognizing at one time all these distinctivedefining signals.

The mobile station may be prepared to display a text or an icon (e.g.‘home’ or ‘airport’ icon) when the mobile station determines that it isincluded in a particular special area for this mobile station.

In step 526, the mobile station sends and updating signal to the mobiletelephone network about its presence in the special area.

In a particular embodiment, the mobile station sends periodically (forexample every 30 seconds) an updating signal about its presence into aspecial area, such updating signal comprising the result of the lastdetermination performed by the mobile station about its presence intothe special area.

In another particular embodiment the mobile station only sends to themobile telephone network an updating signal about its presence into aspecial area when it enters into or exit from such special area.

For a special area defined by the sum of the coverage of severaldistinctive defining signals:

-   -   If the mobile station processing of the defining signals        received in a certain moment determines that at least one        distinctive defining signal associated to this special area is        received:        -   If the previous processing of the defining signals received            determined that no distinctive defining signal associated to            this special area was received at that time then the mobile            station interprets that it has recently entered into this            special area.        -   If the next processing of the defining signals received            determines that at least one distinctive defining signal            associated to this special area is still being received then            the mobile station interprets that it remains located into            this special area;

If the mobile station processing of the defining signals received in acertain moment determines that no distinctive defining signal associatedto this special area is received:

-   -   -   If the previous processing of the defining signals received            determined that at least one distinctive defining signal            associated to this special area was received at that time            then the mobile station interprets that it has recently left            this special area.        -   If the next processing of the defining signals received            determines that no distinctive defining signal associated to            this special area is still being received then the mobile            station interprets that it remains out of this special area.

For a special area defined by the intersection of the coverage ofseveral distinctive defining signals a procedure equivalent to the oneabove can be easily inferred by analogy.

The updating signal may be sent through a diversity of channels providedby the mobile telephone network. For example, in a GSM mobile network,the updating signals can be sent using the USSD (UnstructuredSupplementary Service Data', GSM standards) channel. The data comprisedinto the updating signal will typically be coded by the mobile stationand decoded by the special operating means of the server.

In this embodiment, the updating signals are sent from the mobilestation to the special operating means of the mobile telephone networkrequesting an acknowledgement from the special operating means.

In step 530, the mobile station search for the acknowledgment from thespecial operating means.

If the acknowledgement is not received in the mobile station(possibility 532) because the updating signal does not reach the specialoperating means or the mobile station detects a failure in thetransmission of the updating signal or there is a failure in thetransmission of the acknowledgment, then the mobile station may send theupdating signal again up to a predetermined number of times according toa predefined retransmissions policy.

When the acknowledgment is received (possibility 531) into the mobilestation, the mobile station knows in step 534 that the special operatingmeans will make the appropriate adaptations in the operating parametersof the special areas database.

More generally, the special operating means area waiting for anyupdating signal from any mobile station whose identification code isinto the parameters database. When the special operating means receivean updating signal from a mobile station, they then adapt theoperational parameters of the special areas database that depend on thepresence of this mobile station. In a special area associated with thismobile station and send the acknowledgement.

In one embodiment, the updating signal contains a request to access toservices and/or to download contents provided direct or indirectly bythe mobile telephone network of the operator. Then, an access ordownloading right is granted or denied by the mobile telephone networkdepending on the presence of the mobile station in a special area.

The acknowledgment signals of the updating signal from the specialoperating means are preferably coded. In that case, the mobile stationprocessing means are able to decode the acknowledgments of the updatingsignals.

The operator of the mobile telephone network has therefore a guaranteethat the mobile telephone network will know at least a change on thepresence of the mobile station in one or more special areas even if theradio communication link between the mobile station and the mobiletelephone network is temporarily unavailable.

In a particular embodiment the mobile telephone network may enable ordisable to the mobile station to use predetermined services depending onthe presence of the mobile station into a special area.

As an example, the mobile station may incorporate special checkingsoftware able to generate statistics about the use of the mobiletelephone (phone calls, messages, etc.) into special areas. Thissoftware may be enabled for operation by the mobile telephone networkwhen the mobile station enters into a predetermined special area anddisabled when the mobile station exits such special area.

As another example, the mobile telephone network may broadcast certainmessages associated to a special area (e.g. airport information). Themobile station can be enabled by the mobile telephone network to acceptand display those broadcasted messages when it is located within thisspecial area and disabled when it exits the special area.

The third part of this embodiment of a method according to the inventionis illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 and includes the adaptation of theoperational parameters to the presence of the mobile station in anyspecial area where this mobile station is monitoring its presence.

When the mobile telephone network receives an updating signal, thespecial operating means of the server adjust the value of at least oneoperating parameter of a parameters database linking the special areaand the mobile station. The value of the operating parameter(s) dependson the information contained into the updating signal about the presenceof the mobile station into the special area.

In a particular example, operating parameters related to a specialtariff and some services are enabled or remains enabled into thereferred parameters database when the information contained into theupdating signal indicates that the mobile station has recently enteredor remains located into the special area. In the same example, thespecial tariff and the services are disabled or remains disabled intothe referred parameters database when the information contained into theupdating signal indicates that the mobile station recently left orremains out of the special area.

More precisely, FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an example of apart of the parameters database 600 of operating parameters included inthe special operating means according to an embodiment of the invention.The illustrated part of the special operating means database 600 linkstwo special areas SA1 606 and SA2 608 with 3 mobile stationsidentification codes MS(i−1), MS(i) and MS(I+1), each of which having anentry 603, 604 and 605.

The column 602 of the database comprises the mobile stationsidentification codes. A mobile station identification code refers to acode that is associated with the subscription of the mobile station userinto the mobile telephone network. As an example, in a GSM network thereferred mobile station identification code may be the MSISDN.

In this example, the set of checking data of mobile station MS(i) forthe special area SA1 606, defined in the column 610/606 of the entry 604contains :

-   -   a checking data 650 comprised into the distinctive defining        signal of a first base station BS1 (e.g. the identification code        of BS1), such distinctive defining signal defines the special        area SA1 606,    -   a checking data 652 comprised into the distinctive defining        signal of a second base station BS2 (e.g. the identification        code of BS1), such distinctive defining signal also defines the        special area SA1 606, and    -   a checking data 654 comprised into the distinctive defining        signal of a wireless device WD1 (e.g. the identification data of        WD1), such distinctive defining signal also defines the special        area SA1 606,        for the special area SA1. The mobile station determines that it        is located into the special area SA1 606 when it receives at        least one of the three identifiers 650, 652, 654 comprised into        the distinctive defining signals coming from BS1, BS2 and WD1,        i.e. when it is located within the range of coverage of any of        the three distinctive defining signals (according to one of the        embodiments of the invention, in the case of the defining signal        of WD1, in order to consider that such defining signal is a        distinctive defining signal, it will additionally be necessary        that the reliable information comprised into the defining signal        confirms that WD1 is effectively located into a predetermined        environment).

In this example, the value of column 611/606 for the mobile stationMS(i) and for the special area 606 is enabled (‘+’) or disabled (‘−’) ata given time depending on whether or not the mobile telephone networkreceives a confirmation of new checking data (see description of FIG. 4)from this mobile station confirming that all the checking datacorresponding with the special area has been stored into this mobilestation (based on the same principle, it would also be possible to addanother column in the parameters database to monitor the reception ofconfirmations of deactivation of checking data and another one tomonitor the reception of confirmations of modification of checking datafor a given special area see description of FIG. 4).

In this example, the value of column 611/606 for MS(i) is enabled (+)for the special area SA1 606. In another example, the value of column611/606 for the mobile station MS (i) and for the special area 606contains a set of values enabled (‘+’) or disabled (‘−’), one for eachchecking data.

The column 612/606 corresponding to the operating parameter “MobileStation Control Flag” is enabled (‘+’) or disabled (‘−’) at a given timefor the mobile station MS (i) and for the special area SA1 606 dependingon the information comprised into the updating signals received aboutthe presence of the mobile station into the special area 606. In thisexample, at a given time, the mobile station MS(i) is supposed to be inSA1 606 as the operating parameter “Mobile Station Control Flag” 612/606is enabled (‘+’).

When the “Mobile Station Control Flag” is enabled (+) at a given timefor the mobile station MS(i) and for the special area 606, certaintariffs or services related to such special area may be available forthe user of the mobile station depending on the value (+) or (−) of thecorresponding tariff or service flags for such mobile station andspecial area into the operating parameters database. In this example, ata given time, in the column ‘Tariff identifier’ 614/606, the parameteris then set at ‘XXX’ and in the column 616/606, the ‘Tariff Flag’ isenabled (+). In the column 618/606, the ‘Service identifier’ parameteris then set at ‘YYY’ and in the column 620/606, the ‘Service Flag’ ofsaid service ‘YYY’ is enabled (‘+’). In the column 622/606, the ‘Serviceidentifier’ parameter is set at ‘ZZZ’ and in the column 624/606, the‘Service Flag’ of said service ‘ZZZ’ is disabled (‘−’) because serviceZZZ is disabled at that time for the mobile station MS(i) and thespecial area SA1 606.

The set of columns 610/608 to 624/608 provides the same kind ofinformation for the special area SA2 608. The set of checking data ofmobile station MS(i) (column 610/608) refers to wireless devices WD1with the checking data 656, WD2 with the checking data 658 and WD3 withthe checking data 660 for the special area SA2 608. In this specialarea, at that time, the value of column 611/608 for MS(i) is disabled(−), the operating parameter “Mobile Station Control Flag” (column612/608) is disabled (‘−’). Tariff ‘PPP’ (column 614/608) is enabled(‘+’ in column 616/608), service ‘QQQ’ (column 618/608) is enabled (‘+’in column 620/608) and service ‘RRR’ (column 622/608) is enabled (‘+’ incolumn 624/608). The tariff PPP and the services QQQ and RRR areassociated to mobile station MS(i) when it is in the special area SA2608.

In another embodiment of the invention, the special operating means aredistributed into different servers of the mobile telephone network or ofservice providers associated with the mobile telephone network and anupdating signal may be sent to any of those servers.

In a particular example of this embodiment, there will be a servercontaining a part of the special operating means that stores aparameters database (e.g. the database illustrated in FIG. 6) ofoperating parameters containing the special areas checking data. In thisexample part of the updating signals from the mobile stations may besent to this server of the mobile telephone network and processed by thepart of the special operating means that this server contains.

In this example there will be at least another server, called switchserver, into the mobile telephone network or associated to it, serverthat is including another part of the special operating means thatinclude another parameters database of operating parameters, calledswitch parameters database, that does not contain checking data. Thepart of special operating means included in this other server allows orforbids the provision of some multimedia contents and applicationsavailable to mobile stations (and may preferably provide them itself)depending on the presence, in any special area registered in this switchparameters database, of any mobile station associated with this specialarea in this switch parameters database.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a part of a switch parameters database700 where 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 708, 712/706 and 712/708 have thesame meaning than respectively 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 608, 612/606 and612/608 of FIG. 6. The contents and applications ‘AAA’ are available tothe mobile station MS(i) when it is into the special area SA1 706. Thecontents and applications ‘BBB’ are available to the mobile stationMS(i) when it is into the special area SA2 708.

In the example of FIG. 7, the part of the special operating meansincluded into the switch server receives, embedded into an updatingsignal from MS(i), a request to download a content or an application‘AAA’, and the downloading right is granted because such updating signalfrom MS(i) also indicates (value ‘+’ in column 712/706) that it islocated in the special area 706 at that time.

In the same manner, in the example of FIG. 7, the part of the specialoperating means included into the switch server receives, embedded intoan updating signal from MS(i), a request to download a content or anapplication ‘BBB’, but the downloading right is not granted because suchupdating signal from MS(i) also indicates (value in column 712/708) thatit is not located in the special area 708 at that time.

In some cases the switch server is entirely property of the mobiletelephone network operator while in some others there is an agreement inplace with a third party.

Although the present invention has been described in detail for purposeof illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for thatpurpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, while thepreferred embodiments of the method and of the mobile system have beendescribed in reference to the environment in which they were developed,they are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Otherembodiments and configurations may be devised without departing from thescope of the appended claims.

Further, although the embodiments of the invention described withreference to the drawings comprise computer apparatus and processesperformed in computer apparatus, the invention also extends to computerprograms, particularly computer programs on or in a carrier, adapted forputting the invention into practice. The program may be in the form ofsource code, object code, a code intermediate source and object codesuch as in partially compiled form, or in any other form suitable foruse in the implementation of the processes according to the invention.The carrier may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program.For example, the carrier may comprise a storage medium, such as a ROM,for example a CD ROM or a semiconductor ROM, or a magnetic recordingmedium, for example a floppy disc or hard disk. Further, the carrier maybe a transmissible carrier such as an electrical or optical signal whichmay be conveyed via electrical or optical cable or by radio or othermeans. When the program is embodied in a signal which may be conveyeddirectly by a cable or other device or means, the carrier may beconstituted by such cable or other device or means. Alternatively, thecarrier may be an integrated circuit in which the program is embedded,the integrated circuit being adapted for performing, or for use in theperformance of, the relevant processes.

1. A method for monitoring the presence of a mobile station (100, 200,300) in at least one special area (104, 203, 203 b, 304) associated tothe mobile station, the method comprising the following steps : (a) atleast one radio communication defining device (105, 212, 212 b, 305)transmits repeatedly in at least a channel one radio distinctivedefining signal (214, 214 b) that defines the special area by itscoverage, (b) (512) the mobile station observes the channel and processany signal received in order to determine whether or not it is receivingany defining signal, (c) the mobile station processes any definingsignal received in order to determine whether or not the defining signalreceived is a distinctive defining signal that defines the special area,(d) (526) the mobile station sends an updating signal to a mobiletelephone network about its presence in the special area, (e) the mobiletelephone network routes the updating signal to special operating means(600, 700) that adapt the value of at least one operating parameter(612/606, 612/608, 712/706, 712/708) depending on the presence of themobile station in the special area, the said method is characterized inthat the special area is associated to the mobile station bytransmitting to the mobile station a checking data (408, 454), thischecking data being used (518) by the mobile station for determiningwhether (524) or not (522) the defining signal received is a distinctivedefining signal that defines, alone or with other distinctive definingsignals, the special area associated to the mobile station and the samechecking data being sent to any mobile station whose presence in thisspecial area is monitored.
 2. A method according to claim 1,characterized in that the special area (104, 203, 203 b, 304) isdeactivated (440) for the mobile station by the mobile telephone networksending a deactivation signal to the mobile station (100, 200, 300) tostop the mobile station from recognizing a defining signal that definesthat special area as a distinctive one.
 3. A method according to claim 1or 2, characterized in that the special operating means acknowledge(531) the reception of the updating signal and transmit anacknowledgement signal to the mobile station.
 4. A method according toclaim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one radio communicationdefining device is a wireless device (212, 212 b) whose radiodistinctive defining signal that defines the special area is adistinctive wireless signal (214, 214 b) transmitted by the wirelessdevice in a frequency range outside the frequency range allocated forthe mobile telephone network, the said distinctive wireless signalcontains wireless device identification data and reliable informationconfirming that the wireless device is effectively located into apredetermined environment (204, 230), the checking data associated tothis wireless device (212, 212 b) includes this wireless deviceidentification data.
 5. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4,characterized in that at least one radio communication defining deviceis a base station (105) whose radio distinctive defining signal thatdefines the special area (104) is a distinctive signal comprising aspecial mobile telephone network identification code, the checking dataassociated to this base station (105) includes this special mobiletelephone network identification code.
 6. A method according to any ofclaims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one radio communicationdefining device is a base station (305) whose radio distinctive definingsignal that defines the special area (304) is a distinctive base stationidentity signal comprising an identification code of the base station,the checking data associated to this base station includes this basestation identification code.
 7. A method according to any precedingclaim, characterized in that the special operating means store aparameters database (600, 700) linking the special area (104, 203, 203b, 304) to the mobile station (100, 200, 300) and to a set of at leastthe operating parameter (612/606, 612/608, 712/706, 712/708); and thespecial operating means adapt the value of at least an operationalparameter of this set when they receive an updating signal signallingthat the mobile station exits or enters the special area.
 8. A methodaccording to any preceding claim, characterized in that the operatingparameter is a tariff (616/606, 616/608) flag or a service flag(620/606, 624/606, 620/608, 624/608) that enables or disables a specialtariff (‘XXX’,‘PPP’) or a service (‘YYY’,‘ZZZ’,‘QQQ’,‘RRR’) for themobile station (100, 200, 300).
 9. A method according to any precedingclaim, characterized in that the updating signal includes a request toaccess to a service (‘AAA’, ‘BBB’) or to a multimedia content (‘AAA’,‘BBB’) and the mobile telephone network routes this request to a part ofthe special operating means (700) that allow or forbid the provision ofthis service or multimedia content depending on. whether or not themobile station (100, 200, 300) is into the special area (104, 203, 203b,304).
 10. A method according to any preceding claim, characterized inthat the transmission of the checking data to the mobile station (100,200, 300) is done via the mobile telephone network or via a signal of aat least one radio device or via a person introducing the checking datain the mobile station.
 11. A mobile system for monitoring the presenceof a mobile station (100, 200, 300) in a special area (104, 203, 203 b,304) defined for this mobile station, said system comprising: checkingmeans for detecting the presence of the mobile station in the specialarea associated to this mobile station, said checking means including :At least one radio communication defining device (105, 212, 212 b, 305)transmitting repeatedly in at least a channel a radio distinctivedefining signal (214, 214 b) that defines the special area, in themobile station, observing means for observing the channel and processingmeans for processing any signal received in the channel in order todetermine whether or not the signal received is a defining signal and,if the signal received is a defining signal, whether or not the signalreceived is a distinctive defining signal that defines the special area,transmission means for sending an updating signal regarding the presenceof the mobile station in the special area from the processing means tospecial operating means included at least partly in data processingmeans of the mobile telephone network, the special operating means foradapting the value of at least one operating parameter (612/606,612/608, 712/706, 712/708) depending on the presence of the mobilestation in the special area, characterized in that the said mobilesystem comprises storing means for storing a checking data in the mobilestation, the processing means include means for using this checking datafor determining whether or not the defining signal received is adistinctive defining signal that defines, alone or with otherdistinctive defining signals, the special area and the same checkingdata is sent to any mobile station whose presence in this special areais monitored.
 12. A mobile system according to claim 11, characterizedin that the mobile system comprises special area location monitoringmeans (205, 212) for monitoring the correct location of at least a partof the special area (212).
 13. A mobile system according to claim 11 or12, characterized in that the mobile system carries out a methodaccording to any one of claims 1 to
 10. 14. A server, characterized inthat it contains at least some of the special operating means includedin the mobile system according to any one of claims 11 to
 13. 15. Aradio communication defining device (105, 212, 212 b,305), characterizedin that it carries out a method according to any one of the claims 1 to10.
 16. A radio communication defining device according to claim 15,characterized in that the said radio communication defining device is awireless device (212, 212 b) and it contains means for transmitting adistinctive wireless signal (214, 214 b) that defines the special area(203, 203 b) and means for obtaining reliable information indicatingwhether or not the said wireless device is located into a predeterminedenvironment (204, 230).
 17. A mobile station, characterized in that thismobile station is suitable to carry out a method according to any one ofthe claims 1 to 10.